Mill weight policy prevalence, perceptions, and provisions in Georgia, USA

Grossly overweight log trucks can negatively impact highway safety, mill infrastructure, and the public image of loggers and mills. Internal weight policies are often implemented by mills to prevent overweight timber deliveries. This study investigated the prevalence, effectiveness, and motivations for adopting mill weight policies in the US state of Georgia (GA) and estimated the percentage of grossly overweight loads ( > 100,000 lbs [45,359 kg] GVW). We conducted a survey of GA mill-owning companies to estimate the prevalence of mill weight policies, document the provisions of these policies, and examine the motivations for adoption as well as their perceived effectiveness. Scale ticket data from 129,198 loads were obtained from a sample of mills to estimate the percentage of grossly overweight loads. Survey responses were received from companies representing 27 mills accounting for 14.7 million tonnes of annual wood consumption. Eighty percent of companies representing 85% of responding mills utilized weight policies. Liability, highway safety, and protection of mill infrastructure were the primary motivators for adopting weight policies. Fewer than 5% of delivered loads were grossly overweight. Average GVW of delivered loads was 1,952 kg lower and the percentage of grossly overloaded trucks was three times lower at mills with weight policies compared to those without them. This study suggests that mill weight policies are an effective means of controlling delivered load weights and can be an important component of a strategy to promote safe and efficient timber transportation.